A Little Inspiration for the Day

This is 40

this is 40

The reality that I’m approaching middle age has been slowly settling in all year. There is a level of disbelief. Not because I still feel 12, 20, or 33, but because I cannot believe how quickly time is passing. And it’s only going faster.

This is 40: No Mid-life Crisis Here

I can enter 40 without a full-blown mid-life crisis because I like where I am and what I’ve done, but there is so much more I want to do. It feels like 40 is that alarm that wakes you from a deep sleep blaring: “YOU ONLY HAVE SO MUCH TIME LEFT.” If I can’t see the entire world in one lifetime or learn about every topic that interests me, what should I prioritize? So, while I’m not having a midlife crisis, I am having a moment.

As a child I recall listening to adults reminisce. While laughing together over a memory, they would say something like, “I forgot all about that,” as a story trickled back into their mind. I was baffled. They weren’t telling stories about doing laundry. They were talking about events that seemed memorable to me. How […]

This is 40Maggie Downie2021-03-19T15:13:20-04:00

Shed Light on COVID Positives

Each New Year Matt and I take a long walk where we review the prior year and pin expectations, hopes, and dreams on the coming one. What struck me as I ended 2020 feeling exhausted and a bit deflated was how much joy filled our year was we started reminiscing. That joy lingered well into the COVID months. It was good to shed light on the COVID positives.

Canada Shed Light

We opened the year on an adventure in Canada to freeze our hair. The weather worked against us. Canada had a random warm spell bringing the temps hovering around freezing, but not the negative temps required to freeze our hair until we looked like abominable snow people. Instead the weather provided one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. The Aurora Borealis danced green and slightly purple in the sky. I was in awe and wonder of the world—a state I often find myself.

Birthday in COVID

My birthday came first in my family in COVID-land. Since Broadway was shuttered and I couldn’t see Hamilton my family acted out a duel in my front yard. I was grateful for every Broadway show I’d […]

Shed Light on COVID PositivesMaggie Downie2021-01-11T13:25:13-05:00

Relieve Stress with these 3 Tips

Sometimes when we have been stressed for a prolonged period of time it can start to feel normal and we forget that we have tools to relieve stress that are available anytime we need them. The best part is those tools to relieve stress can be free. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, but they can be helpful if we can tap into them.

Breathing to Relieve Stress

Diaphragmatic breathing (a big, deep belly breath) is known to lower blood pressure and heart rate, ultimately relieving stress. But many of us don’t naturally take a deep breath. Take a moment to try to focus on breathing into your belly and letting it expand versus breathing into your chest and letting your shoulders rise. Try placing one hand on your stomach and another other on your chest. When you inhale you are looking to feel your stomach rise before your chest.

Or count your breath pattern. You can also pick a variety of rhythms, but one that has been researched is to inhale for a count of five and exhale for a count of five. Play with that pattern until you feel yourself start to relax.

Mediation Calms the Mind & Can Relieve Stress

Meditation […]

Relieve Stress with these 3 TipsMaggie Downie2021-01-11T14:59:00-05:00

WOOP

Ever heard the term (acronym, really) WOOP? Neither had I. It’s a goal setting/ habit changing tool supported by 20-years of scientific research. I learned about the technique from the free happiness class Yale offers online.

What is WOOP?

Gabrielle Oettingen, an NYC psychology professor, has written the book and done the research on WOOPing. WOOP stands for Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan. You focus and visualize on a goal or change you’d like to make for five minutes a day. To me it feels like a cross between mediation and self-hypnosis. It goes like this. You spend five, undistracted minutes, truly visualizing the following:

W: Your wish. Something you want to change or achieve. Big or small. Long term or short term.

O: The outcome of achieving your wish. What will happen if you get it? What will your life look like?

O: What obstacles will get in your way? Envision what road blocks you’ll come across and what might stop you from getting where you want to go.

P: Make a plan using if-then statements. If (this obstacle arises) then (I’ll combat it with this action).

What You Really Want

You are supposed to be honest with yourself and determine if you really want the […]

WOOPMaggie Downie2020-09-18T12:32:36-04:00

Feeling on edge?

Have you been feeling on edge since mid-March? Hmmm, I wonder why? Perhaps you are human. We’ve been dealing with a lot in the world lately between COVID, loss of work, black lives matter, and a general sense that we don’t know what the future holds or how to bring about changes we may desire. And, we’ve been going through a lot of it in some degree of isolation—never a good thing for humans. We are social animals. Even if you are one of those people that say you prefer cats and dogs to your fellow humans, you need people and support.

Does Rest Still Work?

I’m a big believer in a rest day from exercise, but I’ve found that it hasn’t been an option. Prior to COVID I could take a rest day. If I took three or four in a row, I’d start to get antsy. (Matt might use the word grumpy.) But now, if I don’t exercise one day, by midafternoon I’m not in a good place. Movement is such a useful tool for me. It makes me feel better. It helps my sanity. Moving boost my spirits. But perhaps […]

Feeling on edge?Maggie Downie2020-06-19T14:16:27-04:00